Geek Diet

No pocket protectors here, just solid weight loss advice.

Everyone else is getting in on the healthy living action, so why can't the geeks of the world? Can you say "hello" in Klingon? Are the only sports you're interested in on your PlayStation? Then, you may be a geek, and you may be able to relate to The Geek Diet.

The Geek Diet isn't about what you eat, but how you eat it. In fact, the author of The Geek Diet, Mark Faithfull, opens the book with the mantra, "effective long term weight loss is about psychology not biology, we lose weight with our minds not our mouths."

The author bases some of his dieting philosophy on a book he heard about on the Scientific American podcast (naturally). The book is titled Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink. What Faithfull found was that in five weeks he lost a very satisfying 16 pounds and still going strong.

Ultimately, the diet isn't just for geeks, but for people who need common sense and convenience. The Geek Diet helps you lose weight and keep it off by enabling you to:

Change your eating habits permanently

Reduce your portion sizes

Increase your fruit and vegetable intake

Reduce the number of high-calorie/high-fat indulgences you consume

Retrain your palate to be satisfied with healthy snacks rather than fattening indulgences.

PRO

The Geek Diet is a fun light read. The author uses some basic common sense for healthier eating.

Buying the book is very affordable.

Lifestyle approach, not diet

CON

The Geek Diet is more of a general philosophy of eating as opposed to very specific direction.

DIET and NUTRITION

With the Geek Diet there are no menus to stick to. The diet is rule-based instead. While people tend to hate rules, the idea is that menus tend to be more of a chore, whereas rules - when simple - are easier to remember.

The rules for your main meals are simple:

Half of what you consume must be fresh fruit and vegetables.

Reduce the size of your plate and therefore your portions.

Decide what you want to eat, serve it up and put the surplus away.

Concentrate on eating; try to avoid doing anything else at the same time.

Eat when you're hungry, not at set times; serve portions in proportion to your hunger.

EXERCISE

Very little is said about exercise in the Geek Diet. That is not to say the author doesn't realize its importance. In true science geek fashion, the author states "For the most effective weight loss regimen, you should seek to reduce your body's energy input and increase its energy output."

Otherwise, he simply states the obvious: walk instead of driving when you can. Take the stairs. He says "run don't walk," but walking can often be a perfectly suitable exercise.

CONCLUSION

The Geek Diet has a nice gimmick to it. But in all honesty, it's not about being good with computers or having an affection for science fiction. Anyone can benefit from the advice given in the Geek Diet literature. It may be simple and not altogether in depth, but you will almost definitely lose weight following this advice.

Common Misspellings

geeck diet, geek deit, geeky diet

Featured Diets

User Feedback

(Page 1 of 1, 1 total comments)

Mark Faithfull

Thanks for the kind review. As a special offer to readers of dietsinreview.com - if you buy a physical printing of The Geek Diet, I will email you a free copy of the ebook version as well. Just drop me a line mentioning this offer to claim (visit thegeekdiet.blogspot.com for contact details)
Mark Faithfull
The Geek Diet

posted May 5th, 2008 8:38 am

Leave Feedback

Skip the moderation queue by becoming a MyDIR member.

Already a member?

Need to sign up?It’s free and only it takes a minute.There are two ways to join:

Stay in Touch

The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice, doctors visit or treatment. The provided content on this site should serve, at most, as a companion to a professional consult. It should under no circumstance replace the advice of your primary care provider. You should always consult your primary care physician prior to starting any new fitness, nutrition or weight loss regime.